Eurostar strike over cleaners “treated like dirt”

RMT has announced strikes by cleaners who it says are “paid peanuts to clean the swanky first class facilities” at the St Pancras Eurostar terminal.

The cleaners are employed by the services company Initial, working at facilities served by Eurostar, East Midlands, First Capital Connect and Southeastern High Speed.

They are scheduled to strike for 48 hours on 16th and 17th February and for a further 48 hours from 1st March.

The action follows a campaign for union recognition after RMT says the workers had not had a pay rise in four years.

It describes Initial’s current offer of an increase of 13p per hour as “insulting”.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow (pictured) said: “It is a shocking indictment of London as a city that the luxurious Eurostar terminal is cleaned by an exploited workforce on poverty wages and that Network Rail have done nothing to stop their contractors, Initial, from treating their staff like dirt.

“Last week, another contractor on the Eurostar system, OCS pulled back from strike action and raised the basic rate to a minimum of £8 an hour and improved conditions like sick pay. Initial staff on the stations deserve similar recognition not a kick in the teeth and a pathetic £6.76 an hour.

“RMT is determined to fight for justice for the Initial cleaners, and action from Network Rail on this stain on the fabric of St Pancras. Pickets and supporters of this brave group of workers will be out in force on Thursday morning demanding a living wage.”